Winking Star Decoded as Root of Planetary System 40
sam1am points out a New York Times report on a recent paper published in Nature about the formation of planetary systems. A binary star system surrounded by a protoplanetary disc was observed over a period of six years by scientists at Wesleyan University. The orbit of the stars around each other caused changes in illumination from within the disc and allowed the researchers to learn a great deal about its composition. Some of the basic data is posted on the university's site. An animation of the system is also available. From the NYTimes:
"'This is the first step in going from smoke particles to macroscopic things like planets and asteroids,' Dr. Herbst said in an interview, noting that these grains were about the same size as those found in many meteorites. Observing starlight reflected from these grains, he said, represented a rare opportunity to study the structure and chemical properties of material in the inner parts of another planetary system."
Re:1mm objects at 2400 light years (Score:2, Funny)
Why now?? I can identify a winking chik at a distance of 10 miles.
Re:Wesleyan University, eh? (Score:3, Funny)
Your post was the equivalent of opening Schrodinger's cat-box...
Earth-like?? (Score:4, Funny)
I mean... if I were sitting on Ganymede (or even on Titan) I'd hate for our sun to dance around like those two do. Talk about extreme seasons!
Winking Star? (Score:4, Funny)
Say no more!
Re:Dare I Say It? (Score:3, Funny)
Hope the admins are careful over there (Score:2, Funny)
Well, you also have indirect proof (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Winking Star? (Score:3, Funny)
Oblig. Linux (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Wesleyan University, eh? (Score:2, Funny)
"But, Caaaaptaaaain....I don't want to post a ST:TNG reference!"
Re:Well, you also have indirect proof (Score:3, Funny)
Actually, he'd detect the wink accurately.
The gender of the winker, though...
PW3NED! (Score:3, Funny)